A short description about magur fish.The walking catfish (Clarias batrachus) is a species of freshwater airbreathing catfish native to Southeast Asia, but also introduced outside its native range where it is considered an invasive species. It is named for its ability to "walk" across dry land, to find food or suitable environments. While it does not truly walk as most bipeds or quadrupeds do, it has the ability to use its pectoral fins to keep it upright as it makes a wiggling motion with snakelike movements.[2] This fish normally lives in slow-moving and often stagnant waters in ponds, swamps, streams and rivers, flooded rice paddies or temporary pools which may dry up
3. Biological distribution
• This is air breathing
fish.Here accessory
respiratory organ is
branched and placed near
the gills.
• The head of this fish is
larger then singhi and
mouth is preasent on the
ventral side.
• Of the eight barbels ,two
are much stouter and
longer,while the other are
similar.
4. • Following paired and impaired fins are
present,which differ from the Singhi.
• Paired Fins
• Pectoral Fin:
• Present near the opercular opening,first fin
ray is modified into a sharp defensive
structure.
• Pelvic Fin:
• Present on the ventral side and close to the
pectoral fin.Supported by soft fin rays.
5. • Unpaired Fins:
• Dorsal Fin:
• Very large, extends along the mid-dorsal line
of entire trunk and tail region.Supported by
innumerable soft fin rays.
• Anal Fin:
• Present along the mid-ventral line of the tail
region.Numerable soft fin rays are present.
• Caudal Fin:
• Semicircular and present on the terminal end
of the tail region.
6. Habits and Habitats
• Walking Catfish are
benthic,omnivorous.Consume a wide variety
of prey, including eggs or larvae of others fish,
small fishes and a number of invertebrates.
• Found in a wide variety of habitats including
lakes, rivers, ponds, canals.
7. Advantages of culture of magur fish
• There are more demand of magur in the
market and that’s why more profit can be
obtained by their culture.
• Method of cultured is easy. They can be
cultured any types of water body.
• They can survive in adverse in environment
such as less oxygen high temperature of water,
even polluted water.
8. • They can be cultured in less water and with
more density.
• Less affected by disease and high tolerant.
• They can be marked as live condition as they
can survive in less water and even in without
water.
• If earing properly, fishes can be marketed
early (6-8 months)
• Along earing individual culture, they can also
be cultured with carp fish, tilapia fish etc. as
mixed cultured.
9. Distribution
• The Walking Catfish is a
widely distributed
speices, known from
pakistan, eastern India,
Sri Lanka, Bangladesh,
Myanmar, Singapore,
Indonesia, and the
Philippines.
10. Economic importance
• Clarias batrachus is a commercially important
catfish species of Bangladesh. The fish is delicious
and nutritious. Owing to its ability to survive for
some time out of water.
• Commercial large-scale production of Clarias
batrachus can play a vital role in the country’s
economy. The fish is important as an ornamental
fish and cultured in aquariums. It is a high priced
fish because of its exceptional nutritional value.
11. Status and conservation
• Not considered as threatened in the Red List
of IUCN Bangladesh (2000). Because of its
ability to withstand marginalized and poor
quality water, the fish still exists as a common
species.
• The Walking Catfish can be sold and traded
fresh fish product. The fish has a great
reputation for their wholesome qualities.
12. • It is cultured in shallow ponds, and the
stocking density ranged from 25,000-
1,00,000/ha. Maximum production of
5,043kg/ha obtained from a farm pond of
0.1ha has been reported.
• The fish can also be cultured in case,
cemented cisterns, paddy fields and sewage
waters.
13. Remarks
• This is a highly variable
species in form. The
caudal fin occasionally
gets fused with the dorsal
and anal fins in some
abnormal specimens.
• The food value of 100g of
flesh contains protein
32g, fat 2g, iron 0.7g,
calcium 172mg,
phosphorus 300mg and
water 66.3%.
